RE: Shed Of The Week: MG ZT
Discussion
I believe this tidy "shed" found a new owner many weeks ago. The for sale thread on the 75/ZT site confirms.
I have two MG ZTs now, both with the 1.8 Turbocharged K-Series engine. Like many other Rovers and MGs before them, underestimated by many Brits since day one. It is still very fashionable for Brits to knock home product especially when not justified. So because of that, sadly few car consumers bothered to visit Rover or MG showrooms when they were available new when the time came for a new car.
Recently a long standing friend who always drives German, has a Boxster and Corrado, joined a few other friends in my ZT recently when we attended a quiz night. It was the first time he had been in a ZT or even looked at one closely. My car is well equipped with lots of additional higher spec gizmos some shared with BMWs. He was well impressed with what is after all now a twelve year old car.
There was a time when said friend always seized on any opportunity to castigate me for my choice of cars. He never does that now. Not since his superior German car burnt a huge hole in his wallet ... literally.
I have lost count of the times over at least the past three decades when giving lifts to folks in my various MGs and Rovers who have been very surprised at just how good some can be to both be in and drive. More than one has asked me to go along and check out one they subsequently have seen in the local classifieds. Three such then went on to buy and no regrets.
Over those same years listening to colleagues, friends and others when discussing the horror story and often very expensive problems with their choice of cars, time and again that reminds me that MGs and Rovers are nowhere near as bad as some believe. Very far from it.
I have been working on two French cars recently. A Peugeot and Citroen. FFFF French = fragile based on those two experiences. My MGs and Rovers are far more substantial in every respect. However, there are numerous French cars down my avenue now where once MGs and Rovers were very frequent. My immediate next door neighbour always had Maxis, Princesses, Montegos and Rovers until about ten years ago. There's now a Chevrolet and Peugeot parked where those British cars once stood.
All very sad and unnecessary. However you can still buy a new MG if you wish ... A company in China picked up some of the few remaining remnants of the much asset stripped former Rover Group for little money and set about making improved versions of what once was made in Cowley, Longbridge and elsewhere.
Cowley still produce cars of course....
Drove a friend's MG6 a while back. Much like my MG ZTs only with lots of later gizmos...
If anyone fancies a MG ZT or Rover 75 like the shed here, really good ones are out there if you search patiently and know what to look for. Better still, good ones can be picked up for little money. Based on my own experiences, with older cars of any make, best to look at privately owned well looked after ones for sale though. Best to do that rather than take a chance with an old car on a used car lot.
EDIT to add 14:01
I have two MG ZTs now, both with the 1.8 Turbocharged K-Series engine. Like many other Rovers and MGs before them, underestimated by many Brits since day one. It is still very fashionable for Brits to knock home product especially when not justified. So because of that, sadly few car consumers bothered to visit Rover or MG showrooms when they were available new when the time came for a new car.
Recently a long standing friend who always drives German, has a Boxster and Corrado, joined a few other friends in my ZT recently when we attended a quiz night. It was the first time he had been in a ZT or even looked at one closely. My car is well equipped with lots of additional higher spec gizmos some shared with BMWs. He was well impressed with what is after all now a twelve year old car.
There was a time when said friend always seized on any opportunity to castigate me for my choice of cars. He never does that now. Not since his superior German car burnt a huge hole in his wallet ... literally.
I have lost count of the times over at least the past three decades when giving lifts to folks in my various MGs and Rovers who have been very surprised at just how good some can be to both be in and drive. More than one has asked me to go along and check out one they subsequently have seen in the local classifieds. Three such then went on to buy and no regrets.
Over those same years listening to colleagues, friends and others when discussing the horror story and often very expensive problems with their choice of cars, time and again that reminds me that MGs and Rovers are nowhere near as bad as some believe. Very far from it.
I have been working on two French cars recently. A Peugeot and Citroen. FFFF French = fragile based on those two experiences. My MGs and Rovers are far more substantial in every respect. However, there are numerous French cars down my avenue now where once MGs and Rovers were very frequent. My immediate next door neighbour always had Maxis, Princesses, Montegos and Rovers until about ten years ago. There's now a Chevrolet and Peugeot parked where those British cars once stood.
All very sad and unnecessary. However you can still buy a new MG if you wish ... A company in China picked up some of the few remaining remnants of the much asset stripped former Rover Group for little money and set about making improved versions of what once was made in Cowley, Longbridge and elsewhere.
Cowley still produce cars of course....
Drove a friend's MG6 a while back. Much like my MG ZTs only with lots of later gizmos...
If anyone fancies a MG ZT or Rover 75 like the shed here, really good ones are out there if you search patiently and know what to look for. Better still, good ones can be picked up for little money. Based on my own experiences, with older cars of any make, best to look at privately owned well looked after ones for sale though. Best to do that rather than take a chance with an old car on a used car lot.
EDIT to add 14:01
900T-R said:
Indeed. The tweaks that made a sporting MG out of a wafting Rover were numerous and very well considered, showing that there was ample engineering talent about at MGR at the time.
Correct me if wrong, but the designer responsible for those numerous MG ZED upgrades also designed the Mclaren F1 and other nice things.Edited by MGJohn on Monday 2nd March 14:01
king hideous thoughBlackpuddin said:
It takes all sorts I suppose. Having punted an MG6 around Anglesey track for a few hours I think you might be surprised at just how accomplished the handling is. They are a bit of bargain IMO. Good size too, between a Focus and a Mondeo.
I'm not denying it may be a (more than) capable tool - however it has not been designed as a good looking car (that's being polite)irocfan said:
Gandahar said:
unreadable clocks.
seriously??? I thought the clocks were great, looked brilliant and no problem reading them at all. I had one about 3 years ago and loved it around town and the the countryside, however the love faded with motorway driving - it really NEEDED an extra gear. I'd had (and still do have) low revving torquey Yanks for quite a while at the point I had my 53 plate beater and having to suffer 3500(ish) rpm up the various M-ways or A12 was just torture. Would I have another one? Possibly - I still have fond memories from my shed
My ZT-T has the same gearing - it's identical gearing to the Audi it replaced - the Audi had an extra gear (6 vs 5).
The difference is that the ZT is so smooth the highish revs don't matter and despite having a litre more in a heavier car, fuel economy is similar.
I have some torquey Yank V8s but they are a different animal altogether - and mine are from the era where the gearing is pretty much the same as my Audi and ZT anyway.
The 75/ZT actually sold pretty well in the UK. Sales tailed off towards the end when MGR where known to be in trouble but it was 7 years old at that point anyway so had reached the end of a normal car's sales lifetime without major changes.
What really killed MGR was collapsing export sales. Their original plan had been to sell over 50% of cars outside the UK but with a much reduced distribution network in mainland Europe and no real loyal customer base they were reduced to knocking LHD 75's out in knock down price batches to places like Libya.
What really killed MGR was collapsing export sales. Their original plan had been to sell over 50% of cars outside the UK but with a much reduced distribution network in mainland Europe and no real loyal customer base they were reduced to knocking LHD 75's out in knock down price batches to places like Libya.
MGJohn said:
900T-R said:
Indeed. The tweaks that made a sporting MG out of a wafting Rover were numerous and very well considered, showing that there was ample engineering talent about at MGR at the time.
Correct me if wrong, but the designer responsible for those numerous MG ZED upgrades also designed the Mclaren F1 and other nice things.
Alicatt1 said:
Which Dreadnought done unspeakable things to...
It has been all over Europe
Please stop bigging up the ZT 260 Alicatt1.... It has been all over Europe
Tell you why.Always fancied a Mk1 ZT 260 in Trophy Blue. My favourite combination. I bought a trophy blue MG ZS new in 2003. As competent as the MG ZT is, the ZS will run rings round the larger car in just about every handling department. Still have the ZS now fast approaching twelve years old and never misses a beat. It's fine handling has been further improved recently since fitting UNIROYAL Rainsport 3s.
Few years ago, a MK1 in Trophy blue ZT 260 suddenly appeared on a used car lot only a mile from me. I dived down there only to find it had been sold for a mere £6999. Speaking to the sales guy, he said the phone had not stopped ringing. He wished he had ten of them!
Not only have the ZT 260s held their prices reasonably well, there are signs that their prices are rising and even well used ones hold the value too.
Meantime, I shall continue to creep about in my MG ZT160 Petrol Turbo until the right 260 comes along ...
Actually, the 1.8t is reasonably nippy in the bigger car and with a bonus, quite frugal with the go faster juice... Hilts said:
Just dropped you a mail mate.
Three hours later it has not arrived. Can you resend please?Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
MGJohn said:
Three hours later it has not arrived. Can you resend please?
Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
I just tried again but the message doesn't appear to sent to me ( a copy).Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
MGJohn said:
Three hours later it has not arrived. Can you resend please?
Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
I think the problem is my end, any chance you could try dropping me a PM. I don't know how long they'll take to fix it, I've asked them to take a look. Cheers.Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
Hilts said:
MGJohn said:
Three hours later it has not arrived. Can you resend please?
Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
I think the problem is my end, any chance you could try dropping me a PM. I don't know how long they'll take to fix it, I've asked them to take a look. Cheers.Over the past few years here on PH, my messages to/from mods and other members went unanswered. At first I believed my messages were being ignored. However, one mod contacted me explaining that there is a glitch where some messages disappear down some PH black hole. That has happened a few more times this year so maybe that black hole has started operating again.
Yes, so far this year I've had several emails go unanswered. Ignored or Black hole disappearances? Who knows?
I'll see if we have better luck this time. If still no show, if you are a member of any of the MG and Rover enthusiast web-sites ~ MG-Rover.org; Rovertech.net; The 75/ZT Owners Club Forums; XPowerForums etc, pm me on one of those... I'm MGJohn there too.
EDIT to add @ 13:53
PM now sent.
Edited by MGJohn on Monday 9th March 13:53
MGJohn said:
Will do. Soon as I've posted this reply.
Yes, so far this year I've had several emails go unanswered. Ignored or Black hole disappearances? Who knows?
I'll see if we have better luck this time. If still no show, if you are a member of any of the MG and Rover enthusiast web-sites ~ MG-Rover.org; Rovertech.net; The 75/ZT Owners Club Forums; XPowerForums etc, pm me on one of those... I'm MGJohn there too.
EDIT to add @ 13:53
PM now sent.
Got it and replied thanks, must be some gremlins my end.Yes, so far this year I've had several emails go unanswered. Ignored or Black hole disappearances? Who knows?
I'll see if we have better luck this time. If still no show, if you are a member of any of the MG and Rover enthusiast web-sites ~ MG-Rover.org; Rovertech.net; The 75/ZT Owners Club Forums; XPowerForums etc, pm me on one of those... I'm MGJohn there too.
EDIT to add @ 13:53
PM now sent.
Edited by MGJohn on Monday 9th March 13:53
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